Page 17 of Justice for the SEAL

“He’s a judge. A state justice, actually.” She covered her eyes with the heels of her hands. “He was kidnapped yesterday, and his wife was killed. Did you see it onthenews?”

“Thecarbomb.”

“Yes. That’s why my friend dragged me out fordrinks.”

“You wereupset.”

Shenodded.

“Was he a friend ofyours?”

“A long time ago. Notanymore.”

“Boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Then why would the kidnapper come to you? Did he ask forransom?”

“Not exactly.” She covered her face. “He wanted me to do something. I can’t tellyouwhat.”

“You came to me because you wanted help. I can’t help if you don’t tell me the wholestory.”

“They’re going to kill Royce if they find out I toldanyone.”

Not if we find himfirst.

He couldn’t tell her HERO Force was looking for Royce, couldn’t tell her he knew any more about the case than healreadyhad.

Not yet,anyway.

Their worlds were overlapping, two circles that shared more common ground than he realized when he took her to his bed, and he was aware of just how foolish thathadbeen.

Even more foolish, he wanted to do itagain.

She looked away from his heatedstare.

“You’re safe here, Gemma, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you want, no stringsattached.”

Tell me you wantstrings.

Tell me you want to be inmybed.

She didn’t look up. “Thankyou.”

He gestured to the other side of the loft. “There’s a guest room next to the bathroom. It has walls andeverything.”

“Do you mind if Ishower?”

“Go ahead. There are towels in thecloset.”

“Do you have something Icouldwear?”

“Sure.”

He dug through his dresser while she showered, listening to the running water as he picked out sweats and an MIT T-shirt, imagining how she’d fill it out and telling his hard-on in no uncertain terms she wasn’t interested in fooling aroundtonight.

Instead, he needed to get back to working on Royce’s laptop, and he poured himself two fingers of scotch before settling into a sleek leather recliner and getting down tobusiness.